Make-up applicator



March 17, 1953 c. A. MUREAU 2,631,321

MAKE-UP APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 20, 1945 l Il J0 l.

` /66 Char/es A. Mur-eau Patented Mar. 17, 1953 iliiii'i'ED STATES QFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention has to do with a make-up applicator and it is a general object of the present invention to provide a simplified, improved, dependable brush type applicator involving, generally, a case and a retractible brush, the brush being retractible into the case so that material therein does not soil objects contacted by the applicator.

Certain make-up materials, for example lip rouge, are advantageously handled by small brushes, and since users of make-up materials commonly carry a supply of such materials with them it is advantageous that such brushes be carried in cases into which the brushes can be retracted to keep them from contacting other objects or articles carried by the users.

It is a general object of my present invention to provide an applicator of the general type above referred to which involves not only a case and a retractible brush, but also a closure for the case which is easily and conveniently operated to close the case to prevent leakage or displacement of make-up material from the case when the brush is retracted.

Another object of my invention is to provide an applicator of the general character referred to which includes a single operating part that can be easily and conveniently shifted by the user of the applicator, which part controls both the brush and the closure so that if the brush 1 is moved to a position to project from the case the closure opens to allow passage of the brush from the case and when the brush is retracted or withdrawn into the case the closure closes behind it in a manner to seal or shut off the opening in v the case through which the brush passes.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a device of the general character referred to which involves few simple inexpensive parts. The structure that I have provided is simple mechanically in its operation and it is exceedingly simple and inexpensive of manufacture.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the applicator that I have provided. Fig. 2 is a front end view of the applicator, being a View taken as indicated by line 2--2 on Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a View of the forward portion of the applicator taken substantially as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1, showing parts at the forward end portion of the applicator in section, and showing the brush retracted. Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, showing the brush extended or in operating position, and showing a greater portion of the structure in section. Fig. 5 is a view similar, generally, to Figs. 3 and 4, except that it is a longitudinal, central sectional view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 1, the brush being shown in the position shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 6 5 on Fig. 3, showing the closure of the structure in a closed position. Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the closure open or in operating position. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View taken 'as indicated by line 8-8 on Fig. l. Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of the operating part employed in the construction shown separate or apart from the other portions of the structure. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the brush unit that I employ in the construction showing it separate and apart from the other portions of the structure and Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the closure element showing it separate and apart from the other portions of the structure.

The applicator embodying my present invention involves, generally, a case Il! which is preferably an elongate tubular structure provided with end walls and having a brush opening in the forward end wall, a closure H carried in the case and operable to shut or close the case opening, a retractible brush unit I2 mounted to reciprocate between a retracted position where it is within the case and an extended or operating position where its head projects from the case, means i3 for operating the closure so that it acts to close the case opening upon being rotated within the case, and means I4 operable to rotate the closure and to reciprocate the brush unit.

The case It may, in practice, vary widely in size, shape, or form and it may be constructed in various manners. In the drawings I have shown a simple plain form of case and I have shown a case that is generally tubular in form and closed at both ends, except for the brush opening 2i) provided in the forward end wall. The particular case illustrated is sectional to facilitate assembly oi the structure and it involves, generally, a forward or front section A and a rear section B. The front section includes an elongate tubular body 2| open at its rear end and closed at its forward end by a front end wall 22. The iront section A of the case is characterized by the brush opening 20 in the front wall 22 which brush opening is preferably rectangular in cross section, or is in the form of a slot made sufficiently wide to pass the flat head of the brush unit that I will hereinafter describe.

The rear section of the case is, in effect, a cap section and involves a tubular body portion 2li which converges somewhat rearwardly at the rear end of the case where it is closed by a rear end wall 25. A forward or front end extension 26 is provided on the body 24 and fits into the rear end of the body 2| of section A and forms a forwardly facing shoulder 2l within the case.

The closure unit I! that I have provided involves, generally, a tubular shank 3B rotatably supported in the body 2| of the case section A and forwardly projecting spaced exible arms 3| that project forward from the shank and have their forward end portion 32 shaped to cooperate to form the closure that closes the brush opening 2i) in the front of the case. The shank 3G lis a tubular part having its exterior 33 turned to slidably or rotatably fit in the body 2| and having a central longitudinal round opening or bore 34. The arms 3| are spaced a substantial distance apart so that they are diametrically opposite each other and project forward from the shank in spacedrelation to a point immediately inside the front end wall 22 where the end portions 32 of the arms form the closure or shutter for the opening 20. I preferably cast or otherwise form the closure unit I I of a plastic or suitable material that gives the arms 3| the desired exibility or resilience and I preferably proportion the parts so that the arms are of substantial length so that their outer end portions can be readily moved in from a normal expanded or open position such as is shown in Figs. 7 and 11, to a closed position such as is shown in Fig. 6.

The forward end portions 32 of the arms 3| are located immediately inside the front wall 22 of the body section A and they are made to seat or t together so that when they are together as shown in Fig. 6 they form a full closure for the brush opening 23. In the particular case illustrated the end portions 32 have opposed fiat faces 36 which are adapted to be moved into engagement with one another as shown invFig. 6, and which are normally apart as shown in Figs. 7 and 11 leaving the brush opening 2|) open or unrestricted.

In accordance with my general construction the closure unit II just described is arranged in the case section A from the rear end thereof and it is confined in the desired position lengthwise in the section A by the case section B. The forward end portions 32 of the arms 3| may abut or closely approach the end wall 22 while the shoulder 2 on the part 26 of the body section B closely approaches or engages the rear end 3B of the shank 30.

The means I3 provided for operating the arms or closure portions 32 of the arms is preferably a cam means and in the preferred form of my invention I provide a cam part I6 to cooperate with each end portion 32 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The cam parts 46 may be in the form of projections in the vicinity of the end wall 22 of the case and the end portions 32 have cam faces 4I located and disposed to cooperate with the cam parts 40 so that when the unit II is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow X from the position shown in Fig. 7, the cam parts cooperate with the cam faces I causing inward movement or defiection of the portions 32 until they come together so that their faces 36 abut as shown in Fig. 6.

Through the construction just described simple rotation or turning of the unit I| in the case 2| causes the cam means I3 to operate to bring the closure portions 32 into active or sealing position. When the unit I I is rotated in the opposite direction, or is released, the faces III are moved to a position where the cam parts 40 and faces 5I are related as shown in Fig. 7. The arms normally tend to assume the out or expanded position shown in Figs. 7 and 1l since they are initially formed in such position as shown in Fig. 11.

The brush unit I2 is carried in the closure unit I I and in its preferred form it involves, generally, a brush head 5G formed by a group of bristles, or the like, a stem 5I that carries the head anda guide 52 on the head operating in the bore 36| of the shank 36 of the unit I I. The head 5S involves a group of bristles secured to the forward end of the stem 5| by a suitable band 53 and the forward end portion of the band is flattened so that the kbrush is a fiat brush as will be seen from Figs. fl, 5 and 10 of the drawings. Further, the brush head is proportioned so that it will readily slide or pass through the brush opening 2D of the case and between the end portions 32 of the closure unit when the parts 32 are positioned as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

The stern 5I of the brush unit extends rearwardly from the head between the arms 3| and into the opening 34 in the unit I I. The guide 52 is .in the form of an enlargement on the rear end portion of the stem 5I and it slidably ts or is carried in the opening 3d so that relative longitudinal movement as well as rotary movement can take place between the units II and I2. When the unit I2 is in the normal in or retracted position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings, the head of the brush is Withdrawn from the forward closure portions 32 of the arms 3| and the arms are rotated around the brush, the brush being in a position close to where the arms 3| join the shank 3U while the guide is in the rear end portion of the shank 36.

The means I4 provided for operating the units II and I2 preferably serves to operatively connect the units so that they operate in the desired synchronism or timed relation. The preferred form of the means Id involves a single simple operating member at the exterior of the case and a stem 6| projecting inwardly from the member 60 through an elongate slot 62 provided in the body 2| of the case and through a cam slot 63 provided in the shank 36 of the unit lThe stem 6| extends inwardly through the openings 52 and 63 to connect to the unit I2 preferably to the guide 52 of the unit I2. I have shown the stem 5| extending into an opening 55 formed transversely through the guide 52. In practice it is desirable to establish friction between the several relatively moving parts to prevent accidental operation of the device. To establish the desired friction I preferably make the member 65 elongate in form and arrange it parallel with the exterior of the case and bow it so that it is initially formed with a slightly concave inner side 66. I apply the stem to the opening 65 and preferably make it fast in the opening E5 by any suitable means, at a time when the member 65 has been pressed into engagement with the exterior of the case so that it is flat against it. Through this construction the part 69 is slightly deformed or sprung and it is this tensioned condition of the member 60 which serves to keep the parts frictionally held against accidental movement.

The slot or opening 62 in the body 2i of section A extends longitudinally of the case and serves as a guide for the stem so that the stem, when operated through the member Sli, always moves straight back and forth, or lengthwise of the oase. The guide 52 of the brush unit I2, being fixed on the inner end of the stem 6I, moves straight back and forth in the case and through the construction that I have just described the brush unit is held against rotation, and it is held in a rotative position so that the flat brush head 50 properly registers with the slot in the case so that it can be readily moved out through the opening 20 to a working or projected position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. f

The cam opening or cam slot 63 in the shank of the closure has a forward end portion which is straight or lengthwise of the structure so that it is parallel with the opening 62 and the stem SI works in the forward straight portion of the cam slot 63, allowing the brush unit to be moved forward to the projected position at a time when the closure unit is held in a rotative position where the cam means I3 is positioned as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The rear end portion of the cam slot 63 is pitched at an angle or extends laterally so that as the stem 6I .i

is moved to its innermost or rear position the nal portion of the movement causes the stem to enter the pitched or lateral portion of the cam slot with the result that the shank ofthe unit II is rotated in the case section A, causing the cam means I3 to operate to the position shown in Fig. 6. The straight portion of the cam slot 63 is made long enough so that the brush head is within or between the arms 3l clear of the closure portions 32 before the closure portions 32 start to move into the closed position shown in Fig. 6. When the structure is initially operated from a position where the brush is fully retracted there is an initial turning of the closure unit II causing the closure parts 32 to spring open to the position shown in Fig. 7, and thereafter continued movement or operation of the device causes the brush unit to move forward so that the brush head 5I) projects from the forward end of the case. In the preferred form of the invention the stem 5I of the brush unit frictionally engages between the arms 3| of the unit I l which supplements the tensioned condition of the member Si) to keep the parts frictionally held against accidental movement. It is to be noted that the stem 5I extends forward from the guide 52 a substantial distance so as to insure definite opening of the end portion 32- of the arms 3l so as not to injure the head of the brush as the device is operated to the forward position.

It will be observed that the means I4 thus forms a single operating means for both the brush unit and the closure and that it serves to retain these parts in the proper rotative position in the case, and it times or synchronizes them so that they operate in the proper manner.

With the construction that I have described it is a very simple matter to form the individual parts, it being evident that they can be readily formed of inexpensive material and they are easily assembled, since there are only four parts and they fit together in a simple manner. In assembling the device the closure unit II formed as shown in Fig. 11 is inserted into the body section A, the brush unit I2 is inserted into the unit Ii, and thereafter the operating member Bt with the stem 6I attached is inserted through the openings 62 and 63 and secured or made fast in the opening 55. The body section B may be finally applied to the section A and permanently joined thereto making the structure complete.

In operating the device it is merely necessary to slide or reciprocate the operating part 50 at the exterior of the case longitudinally of the case between a rear position where the brush is fully retracted and a forward position where the brush is in operating position. As the member 6i) is moved forward the closure is opened and then the brush is projected out through the opening 25B in the forward end of the case. When the member di) is moved back to its original position the brush is first retracted to a position within the case and then the closure is operated, closing the opening 20 sealing the device so that foreign matter does not get into it and so that material on the brush does not escape in a manner to get on other objects.

I-Iaving described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described including, an elongate tubular case having an end opening and abutments adjacent the opening, a closure unit rotatably supported in the case operable by rotation within the case to close the said opening in the case, a brush unit in the case operable to a position projecting through the opening, and a single operating means for the two units, the closure unit including resilient arms carrying closure parts and normally yieldingly holding said parts spaced to pass the brush unit out of the case and flexible to move the said parts into engagement to close said end of the case, the said parts being moved into engagement with each other by said abutments when the closure is rotated in the case.

2. A device of the character described including, an elongate tubular case having an end opening and abutments adjacent the opening, a closure unit rotatably supported in the case operable by rotation relative to the case to close the said opening in case, a brush unit in the case operable to a position projecting through the opening, and a single operating means for the two units, the closure unit comprising a single integral part having resilient arms normally spaced to pass the brush unit and closure parts carried by the arms movable into engagement with each other to close the opening when moved into cooperative engagement with the abutments upon rotation of the closure in the case.

3. A device of the character described including, an elongate case having an end opening, a single unitary tubular closure member with a cam slat therein and rotatably supported entirely within the case and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the case, the closure being operable by rotation within the case about the axis of the case to close the said opening of the case, a brush unit supported by and within the closure and operable to a position projecting from the case through the said opening, and a single operating means for the closure member and brush unit includinga member guided by the case cooperating with the cam slot in the closure member and attached to the brush unit.

4. A device of the character described including, an elongate case having an end opening, a closure unit rotatably supported in the case and held against movement longitudinally of the case and having normally spaced elongate parts eX- tending lengthwise of the case and iiexible into engagement with each other to close the opening, cam means operable by rotation of said Unit to actuate said parts of the unit to position wh are they close the opening, a brush unit slidable between a position projecting through the opening and a position where it is wholly within the case, and a single means operating the two units.

5,. A device of the character described including, an elongate case having an end opening, an elongate closure unit rotatably supported in the case, concentric therewith and having normally spaced flexible parts, cam means operable by rotation of said unit to actuate the unit to position where it closes the opening, a brush unit slidable between a position projecting through the opening and a position where it is wholly within the case, and a single means operating the two units, the cam means including xed cams in the case cooperating with cam faces on said part of the closure unit to move said parts into engagement with each other.

6. A device of the character described including, an elongate case having an end opening, a closure unit rotatably supported in the case and held against longitudinal movement therein, cam means operable by rotation of said unit to actuate the unit to position where it closes the opening, a brush unit slidable between a position projecting through the opening and a position where it is wholly within the case, and a single means operating the two units, the closure unit including resilient parts normally spaced to pass the brush unit and movable together to close the opening, and the cam means including xed cam parts in the case cooperating with cam faces on the said parts.

7. A device of the character described including, an elongate case having an end opening, an elongate closure unit wholly within and rotatably supported by the case concentric therewith, the closure unit having normally spaced L flexible closure parts, cam means acting between the case and said parts of the closure unit operable by rotation of said unit relative to the case to actuate the said parts of the unit to position where they are together and close the opening, a brush unit slidable between a position projecting through the opening and a position where it is wholly within the case, and a single means operating the two units including an operating member at the exterior of the case and a stem projecting from said member through a guide opening in the case, through a cam opening in the closure unit, and attached to the brush unit.

8. A device of the character described including, an elongate case having an end opening, a closure unit coni-ined within and rotatably sup- 8 ported by the caseand held-against,longitudinal movement therein, cam means operable by lrotation of said unit to actuate the unit to position where it closes the opening, a brush unit slidable between a position projecting through the opening and a position where it is wholly within the case, and a single means operating the two units, the closure unit including resilient parts normally spaced to pass the brush unit .and movable into engagement to close the opening, and the cam means including fixed cam parts in the case cooperating with cam faces on the said parts, the said means including an operating member at the exterior of the case and a stem projecting from said member through a guide opening in the case, through a cam opening in the closure unit, and attached to the brush unit.

9. A device of the character described including, an elongate case having an end opening, a closure unit having a tubular shank rotatably supported in the case and having resilient arms integral with and projecting from the shank and normally spaced apart, cam means being operable by rotation of the shank to move the arms together to close the case, a brush unit in the case having a guide slidably supported in the shank, the brush unit being operable to a position projecting through the opening, and a single operating means for the two units including a stem extending from the exterior of the case through an elongate guide opening in the case and through a cam opening in the shank and attached to the guide.

10. A device of the character described including, an elongate case having an end opening, a closure unit confined wholly within and rotatably supported by the case and operable by rotation to close the case, a brush unit in the case operable to a position projecting through the opening, a single operating means for the two units, the closure unit including spaced diametrically opposed resilient arms normally spaced to pass the brush unit, each arm having an end free to be iiexed laterally of the case and an end anchored to a support, and closure parts carried by the free ends of the arms and movable into engagement with each other to close the opening upon inward iiexure of the arms, and cam means operating the arms when the unit is rotated in the case.

CHARLES A. MUREAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the f file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,216,433 Gaisman Feb. 20, 1917 1,444,667 Davis Feb. 6, 1923 1,862,271 Levy June 7, 1932 2,057,502 Peterson Oct. 13, 1936 2,111,767 Gimonet Mar. 22, 1938 2,373,711 Satz et al Apr, 17, 1945 2,386,417 Apfelbaum Oct, 9, 1945 

